If I Could

Chapter 1: One Eventful Meeting.

(MEREDITH)

I think that Ms. Policarpio hates me or I just thought that way because she failed me in my subject, the reason I have to repeat it. Not that I hate neither I’m bad at Economics, maybe I just lack something that I wish Ms. Policarpio told me so that I could meet her standards. I don’t want to ask her why she failed me because she’s easily get angry that will makes your day ruined. She’s already near her retirement and many students anticipate it.

I started to doddle on the last page of my notebook. Well, scratch that - the last page doesn’t have any space anymore so I move to the second to the last page. It’s not that I’m not interested on her lesson but I’ve been already here before so I’ll just use the notes I have last semester.

After thirty minutes, finally the class ended. Some students immediately sprang up from their chairs, swept their things and left the room. I, on the other hand, took my time to place my things on my bag. It’s my last class for the day and I’m not on a hurry to get home.

Ms. Policarpio was still on the room clearing her things from the table, I walked towards her. I decided to talk to her because I want to know the reason why I failed so that I could do something about it because I don’t want to keep on repeating this subject.

“Ms. Policarpio?” I called.

She turned her head, her eyeglasses shone from the light, “Yes?”

“I just want to ask why I failed last semester on this subject,” I asked.

She raised an eyebrow, “Probably because you didn’t do your best.”

I did my best! My lips twitched because I really want to defend myself, “I complied on all your requirements,” I calmly said.

“Complying all the requirements isn’t enough, you need to get good marks on them,” she snide.

“Maybe you could check my grades on my exams last semester so that I could know where I lack,” I urged.

“Do you honestly think that I could remember you? I have a lot of students and I couldn’t monitor all of you,” she scolded, “Could you just study harder, more than what you did last semester?”

“Okay,” I can’t take this anymore and left the room. I frowned I was just only asking a favour. I won’t let it ruined my day, if she doesn’t want to help me then fine.

I saw my best friend, Iris Mitchell on the hallway reading a newspaper, “Iris!” I called and walked towards her.

She looked at me and beamed. I admit she’s really beautiful, not that I felt insecure but it’s the truth. Her pixie cut black hair really suits her small face with slender and tall body. She’s also a trendsetter, she know how to dress really well. If I didn’t know her I assume that she’s a model. Iris is also beautiful inside and out.

“Mary!” she beamed excitedly, “I’m glad you’re here! I have to show you something!” she handed me the newspaper she was holding.

I took the newspaper and read the contents, WASTE MANAGEMENT CONTROL FAILED. “Wow, you really did this?” I was surprised to see her research paper on the newspaper, “This is the problem of the local government, not yours.”

“People need to be informed about the failure of the waste control in our city because this will make the government move faster on their job,” she explained.

“You shouldn’t be on the Business Management, you should have been on Political Science or any Law related,” I chuckled.

“I hate memorizing laws,” she shrugged.

I read her article real quick. Iris is very vocal to what’s happening in our city, she’s an activist and her goal is to have a peaceful and perfect city, which I know is impossible.

“This is really good,” I complimented her as I turned the page to look for more and what I only saw is a news about a car accident three days ago. I handed her back the newspaper. “Are you going back home already?” I asked.

“Not yet, I still have to do my report on the library,” she answered, “How about you?”

“I’m going home,” I replied, “I have to cool down from Ms. Policarpio.”

She grimaced, she passed Ms. Policarpio’s subject and felt bad that I didn’t so she started to hate her. “Don’t let her ruin your day.”

“Of course,” I assured her. On the corner of my eye I saw three girls walking on the hallway like they own it, “Mean Girls on the radar,” I alerted her.

She looked at them and sighed, “Bitches.”

Monica Dixon, Sheryl Perkins and their leader Dionne Brooks are literally those mean girls like in a movie. They’re rich, famous, yes, beautiful but have an evil inside those curvy bodies. We don’t like to get on their way but they like to get on ours.

Sheryl saw us and whispered to Dionne, she looked at us and smirked. Urgh, first Ms. Policarpio and now them.

“Oh, you’re here Meredith, are you alright?” she asked with a fake concern looking face.

“Yeah,” I said not really wanting to fight with her.

“I thought you’re dead? Did you come back to life?” she mocked and the two girls giggled.

I frowned, it’s not good to joke about death.

“It’s not her, idiot,” Iris interrupted, “Is your brain really that small that you don’t know how read?” she sassed.

Dionne scowled, “Don’t be so proud because your crap article was posted on the newspaper.”

“Oh she reads!” she exclaimed, “Well, that’s good for you and thank you for reading my article. Let’s go Mary,” Iris grabbed my hand and walked away.

I’m really happy Iris isn’t one of them and I’m glad she’s my best friend.

“Did someone die?” I asked curiously.

“Yeah,” she nodded, “He’s a civil engineering student from this school. I can’t remember the name but you do have the same surnames, different spelling though.”

“Ah, that’s why some of the engineering students wore white shirts the other day,” I recalled.

“Yeah, well, I have to go to the Library. See you around,” she hugged me and walked on the opposite way.

“Bye,” I waved then walked towards the parking lot where my car is.

My family isn’t that wealthy but we are also not poor. My Dad, Andrew Smith works at Wessel Industries, he’s on office work and my Mom, Trina Smith sell houses, sort of real estate agent. My Dad bought a car for himself and fortunately Mom’s company provided her a car because it’s a necessity on her work. Dad also got me a second-hand car as a high school graduation gift, it’s not brand new but what’s important is that it still works perfectly fine. I’m also glad to have it because I don’t have to wake up early just to catch the bus.

As I arrived at my house, I saw no Mom and Dad’s cars. Well, it’s still four and usually they get home around five or six but I bet Felix, my seven year old younger brother, was already inside.

“I’m home!” I announced.

I heard the television noises from the living room and saw Felix sitting on the sofa, watching some cartoons.

“Hello big guy,” I ruffled his hair, “Are you hungry?” I asked.

He smiled and nodded.

“What do you want?”

“Ice cream,” he replied.

“Alright, sandwich,” I chuckled as I saw him pout and walked towards the kitchen. Sugar is a no-no before dinner.

I placed my bag on the counter and started to make him a sandwich.

Felix is really a smart and matured kid even though he’s only seven years old. Every morning Dad will drive him to school and their school bus will drive him back to our house because their school ends at 3:30. Since no one still at home by the time he arrives, he knew where Mom hid the house keys, under the small bonsai pot beside the door, and spends his time inside the house. He will just turn on the television to watch cartoons, grab some food on the kitchen, play with his toys, read some books or do something not dangerous. For a small kid, he’s brave, he thinks maturely and has a sense of responsibility like he always lock the doors and doesn’t open it easily for strangers. He sometimes surprised us by spouting deep words that only a matured person can do.

The only setback he has is he doesn’t like to talk much that leads to sometimes not expressing his emotions. I really think that an old man is living inside him. However, he’s really cute and adorable when he does sweet things or expresses his emotions but they are very rare.

“I’ll leave your sandwich here,” I said as I place the plate on the counter, “Don’t eat at the living room, Mom will get angry.” I grabbed my bag and walked to the stairs.

Our house is pretty homey and perfect for our family. It’s not that huge like those mean girls have but I like our house. It’s a two storey with three rooms for me, Felix and our parents.

I opened my room and threw my bag at the bed. I want to change into something comfortable.

“Wow, she just threw the bag at the bed,” a voice of a man suddenly said.

I froze.

“I like her room, it’s not too girly,” he spoke again.

I looked at him and my eyes widen. You will be really surprise if you saw a stranger on your house but this is on another level. He’s glowing. I did what any person would do.

Scream.

I also fell to the ground because of shock and I covered my eyes using my hands. “Oh my God, oh my God!” I cried.

“Wha-what?! Can you see me?” he asked in disbelief.

“Oh my God, oh my God!”

“Calm down! Calm down! Don’t scream, please,” he tried to calm me as he walked towards me or glided.

I cried louder, “D-don’t come near m-me! Don’t c-come near me!” as I scurried away from him and squeezed myself on the wall.

“Don’t be scared, please. Calm down,”

Suddenly the door opened and Felix stood there with a baseball bat on his hand. I should be saying how adorable he is but I’m totally scared right now.

“Wait, wait! I’m from your school! Civil Engineering! Tristan Smythe! Tristan Smythe,” he explained hurriedly.

From my school, Engineering and we have the same surname. Is he the person Iris talking about earlier?

“F-Felix, c-could you see anything different?” I reluctantly asked him as I slowly stood up still leaning on the wall.

Felix looked at me then at my room surroundings, “Are you okay?” he asked.

Okay, he thinks I’m crazy.

“It seems that you can only see me. Don’t tell him about me!” the man who called himself Tristan Smith said.

Okay, I must be really crazy. “Y-yes I’m fine,” I nervously chuckled as I walked towards Felix and pushed him softly to close the door, “You can go back downstairs, I made you sandwich, right? Don’t worry, don’t worry.”

As I closed the door, I sighed nervously then whispered to myself, “It’s not true, it’s not true, it’s not true.”

“I’m sorry but,” Tristan interrupted, “I’m true.”

“Don’t come near me!” I pushed him away but my hands just passed through his body. My hands trembled, no, my whole body trembled in fear. “You’re really a ghost,” I exasperated.

“I like to be called soul than ghost, its cooler,” he commented, “But can you really see me?”

I nodded.

“You’re the only person who could see me. It’s been three days since I died and nobody ever seen my soul,” he explained.

“That is not something to be proud of!” I retorted.

“Well yes but I’m only happy that someone could actually see me,” he sighed in relief, “Come on, calm down, I’m not going to hurt you not that I can do it.”

“Ho-how can I be so sure? Maybe you can do those things on the horror movies,” I countered.

“You tried to push me away but your hands just passed through. I can’t do anything to you though. I admit, I can touch and move things but not really that long and I need a lot of concentration. However, I can’t hurt you,” he assured me.

“Like I said how can I be so sure? As you said you can still touch things,” I frowned.

He sighed, “Because I like you. I can’t hurt the person I like.”

This is getting weirder. “What?”

“I knew you’re Meredith Smith from the Business Management department and I have a crush on you,” he confessed, smiling sheepishly.

“Wow, you’re such a stalker,” I deadpanned.

“Hey, hey! I’m not like that, I only knew a little about you,” he defended, “Besides, it’s only natural for a person to know the person they like.”

I’m not popular but this is not the first time I got a love confession. I got some when I was in elementary and high school but this is my first time to be confessed by a ghost. Well, who does?

“Could you just move a little bit away from me? You’re creeping me off,” I grimaced as I gestured my hands in a pushing motion.

“Okay I understand, it’s really unbelievable seeing a soul,” he slowly moved back, “But you do have to believe me.”

“How do you know where I live?” I inquired.

“I don’t really know where you live but when I was visiting one of my friends, when I was alive, I saw you driving on this street and I assumed that you live here. So, I went house to house to find you but I didn’t expect for you to see me,” he explained.

“Why am I only the person to see you? Why are you still here on earth? I don’t really know you and honestly, this is the first time I saw you and the first time I saw a ghost. I don’t know what to do now,” I sat on the floor again and pressed my head.

“I prefer to be called a soul than a ghost,” he chirped.

I glared at him, “You’re preferences aren’t important right now.”

He pouted, “Alright, alright, I just don’t want to be called a ghost.” Then he adds, “I don’t also know the reason why you could only see me and I think I have a conclusion on why I’m still here.”

“And what is that?” I asked curiously.

“You know, like those in the movies, ghosts who still can’t go to afterlife because they still have some unfinished business or sort of,” he shrugged, “Besides I do have this on my wrist. I don’t have any tattoos on my body so I assumed that it is related to why I’m still here.” He showed me his wrist where Melanie was written.

“Who’s Melanie?” I puzzled.

“My mom,” he answered.

“So what’s your unfinished business with her?” I questioned.

“That’s what I don’t know and that’s why I need your help,” he said.

“Wha-Why do I have to help you?” I flabbergasted, “Why not anyone who is close to you!”

“As I said earlier, you are the only person who could see and hear me,” he pointed out, “So please help me so that I could rest in peace.”

This is really unbelievable, unrealistic and supernatural. Why do I have to experience this?

“Okay,” I said still unsure, “I almost forgot I have to go somewhere else,” I quickly grabbed my car keys and went out of my room and ran down the stairs.

Felix was sitting on one of the stool by the kitchen counter quietly finishing his sandwich.

“I’ll go out for a while. Stay inside the house,” I hurriedly informed him then ran out of the house without waiting for his response.

I went inside my car then started the engine.

“Where are you going?” Tristan suddenly popped out, sitting on the passenger seat.

I accidentally pushed the car’s horn and squealed. “Don’t do that!” I scolded him.

“Do what?” he wondered.

“Suddenly popping out from nowhere!”

“Sorry,” he grinned apologetically, “Can’t help it, I’m a soul.”

“I’ll just have to go somewhere important!” I told him then started to drive. “It will be a quick drive.”

“Okay,” he nodded, “I’ll just go with you. It’s boring when no one wants to talk to you or no one can’t talk to you,” I think that’s better if he come with me because I want this to end.

After a twenty minutes drive, I arrived at my destination.

Tristan looked at the place then at me, “Wow, a church, really?” he deadpanned.

I ignored him and parked then immediately went out of my car then ran inside the church. There’s no mass schedule right now so there’s only few people. I kneeled on the first kneeler I saw, clasped both of my hands and closed my eyes.

“Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. Amen,” I prayed. The first thing I saw when I opened my eyes is the cross at the altar, then I looked at my right and saw no one, then at my left and saw Tristan sitting beside me looking at me like I was a joke.

“Are you done?” he asked.

I went back to praying, “God, please, I’m very sorry to all the bad things I did and for not regularly attending mass please don’t hate me for it and --,”

“Could you stop it already? You’re hurting my pride,” he whined.

“I know I should be thankful that you gave me third eye but please keep it close because I don’t want to see any ghosts--,” I continued.

“I’m not an evil spirit, I won’t disappear just because you went to a church! And please don’t call me ghost,”

“If this is some sort of a punishment, I’m already repenting on all my sins--,”

“Mary,” he called me but I still ignored him, “MARY!”

“WHAT?!” I shouted as I glared at him, the embarrassing part is; it echoes around the church. I widen my eyes in realization and looked around. The few people who were praying, walking or doing whatever they are doing were staring at me weirdly.

I smiled sheepishly and slowly stood up from the kneelers, “S-sorry, Sorry,” then walked out of the church in embarrassment and ran at my car again. I covered my face with both of my hands and groaned.

“Wow, that was really embarrassing,” he commented. “You just shouted inside the church.”

“You also shouted!” I dignified.

“Yeah but you are the only person who could hear me,” he said smartly, “But honestly, I’m sorry if this is really frightening you, creeping you out or if you think that this is some sort of a punishment but you are the only person who could see me and help me. I don’t want to be dead but it happened. But I also don’t want to be stuck in this world seeing everyone I love but they can’t see me back. I want to be in peace already,” he pleaded.

I could feel the sincerity and the loneliness from his voice. I actually felt remorse but I’m still scared.

“I’m uncertain but,” I thought for awhile, “Okay fine, I will help you!” I finally decided. There’s no turning back now. Oh really!

“Really? Is that final? No more sudden trip to churches?” he asked hopefully.

I looked at him sceptically, “Why? Are you afraid of churches?”

“Not that but you are being absurd for thinking that I’m an evil spirit,” he rolled his eyes, “Let’s just go home, you left your poor brother at home alone.”

“You’re going to stay at my house?!”

“I live alone on an apartment and my family lives outside of the city so I have nowhere to go,” he reasoned out, “I’m a homeless soul.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose. This is really, really, really crazy.

***

Beware: Grammar maybe bad.

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